Sports in Brief | U.S. takes its fifth Four Nations title

Posted: January 31, 2007

Greg Ryan

, coach of the U.S. women's soccer team, went to southern China searching for a third striker, and production from his midfielders.

He found both yesterday in a 2-0 victory over China in Guangzhou - goals by midfielder Lori Chalupny and striker Natasha Kai that gave the Americans a record fifth Four Nations tournament title - a warm-up for the World Cup in China this fall.

Ronaldo, the World Cup's all-time leading scorer, left Real Madrid for AC Milan, returning to Italy's Serie A for a reported $9.73 million transfer fee.

Elsewhere: American defender Oguchi Onyewu joined Newcastle on loan in a move that will keep him in the English Premier League for at least the rest of the season.

Colleges

Curtis Bray

has been named linebackers coach at Temple. Bray spent seven seasons as an assistant at Pittsburgh, including the last four as linebackers coach.

Elsewhere: Defensive back Jared Williams of Perry Traditional Academy in Pittsburgh and Derek Dennis of Trinity Pawling High in Pawlings, N.Y., have made oral commitments to play football at Temple.

Baseball

Barry Bonds

gave the San Francisco Giants the right to terminate his $15.8 million, one-year contract if he is indicted, the Associated Press said.

The unusual provision, included in the deal that was completed Monday night, protects the team in case Bonds is charged in the federal government's steroids investigation.

In addition, the Giants have the less drastic option of converting Bonds' deal to nonguaranteed, the AP said.

Jurisprudence

A Feb. 5 hearing in the Duke lacrosse sexual-assault case has been postponed until May 7 as the new prosecutors continue to study evidence.

Embattled Tour de France winner Floyd Landis said he is increasingly pessimistic that he will be able to race professionally this year even if he is cleared of doping charges.

Landis said he and his lawyers have encountered frustrating obstacles while preparing to take his case to an independent arbitration panel convened under the auspices of the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency. With no hearing date set, "I've pretty much written off this season," Landis, 31, said in an interview with ESPN.com last week.

The Lancaster County native repeatedly has denied taking performance-enhancing drugs.

Suspended prep star O.J. Mayo won a temporary restraining order allowing him to play last night for Huntington High of West Virginia against a nationally ranked opponent.

Cabell County Circuit Judge Dan O'Hanlon granted separate requests by Mayo and five other Huntington players who were suspended for two games stemming from a game against Capital High last Friday. Mayo received two technical fouls and was ejected, then he followed referee Mike Lazo to the scorer's table and apparently bumped the referee from behind.

The rulings allowed Mayo and his teammates to play against Artesia of Lakewood, Calif.

O'Hanlon set hearings for the players for Feb. 9 and barred state athletic officials from imposing the suspensions until a decision is made on the players' procedural rights to appeal.